Best of E3 2006 Awards

Best Racing Game

If the game's primary focus is competing for the fastest time, it belongs in here.

• Best Shooter
• Best Role-Playing Game
• Best Online Multiplayer Game
• Best Racing Game
• Best Massively Multiplayer Game
• Best Strategy Game
• Best Action/Adventure Game
• Best Original Game
• Special Mentions

Winner: Excite Truck

Best Racing Game: Excite Truck (Nintendo)

Excite Truck epitomizes Nintendo's software strategy for the next generation: melding familiar franchises with shockingly innovative control systems to superb effect. Moving the Wii's unique controller around tilts and steers your vehicle: landing on all four wheels after a jump rewards you with a speed boost, so there are real gameplay consequences for mastering this novel system.

But there's more to Excite Truck than a funky control system and a proud heritage. Although the graphics aren't stunning -- a quality which none of the Wii games on show really demonstrated -- its exotic tracks and slick special effects mean nobody could call it an ugly game.

Nevertheless, it was still the control system that fascinated us about Excite Truck. Innovation isn't exactly a word that's often associated with racing games, but the Wii's controller becomes part of the game in a way other racing games just can't match. >>>More info

Runner-ups

Test Drive Unlimited: The latest in this long-running series combines cars, motorbikes, and around 1000 miles of realistic Hawaiian roads.>>>More info

Formula One 06: Using your PSP as a wing mirror sounds gimmicky, but it might just work. We're looking forward to seeing more. >>>More info